Canberra Preview & Best Bets – 9/02/2024

Canberra Tips for Friday, February 9

Our form expert provides Canberra tips for Today’s horse racing at Canberra Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.5  BON FRANKIE

Aaron Clarke saddles-up BON FRANKIE here who has hit the ground running this time in and third-up today, looks the testing material in this contest. Last start, the Bon Hoffa gelding was second-up as he took on city class company at Rosehill and in a 16-strong field, beat them all home in a Class 3 Hcp over 1400m. He faces Open company today but is dropping back to country class opposition and has Richard Bensley returning as the pilot for this event. The five-year-old boasts a strong record on wet tracks so the conditions here look ideal for him today. Well drawn in gate and already a winner when third-up, he looks a major player here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.2  MATLOCK  

The Waterhouse & Bott-trained MATLOCK is second-up after an 18-month absence and gives every indication he is in this battle all the way. Last start, the Kermadec gelding made a promising return from such a long break when he took out a BM65, here over the mile trip. With Louis Beuzelin at the helm, he took a while to warm up but he got there in the end with 61kgs on his back. Beuzelin sticks with him today as the stable slip the blinkers back on for this contest. Stepping-up in grade today, he is now a track and distance winner and ideally drawn in gate two, he will take beating again.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.5  HURRICANE ABLOWING 

Local galloper, HURRICANE ABLOWING is second-up today and has conditions to suit here. Last start, the Panzer Division gelding was fresh off a six-month break when he finished a close-up third in a Class 1 Hcp over 1020m at Moruya. With Billy Owen aboard, he weaved his way through traffic that day after being held up at vital stages in the run home. The 1300m looks more suitable for him today as Owen sticks with him for the assignment. He gets the gun-run from gate one where he maps to settle mid-field on the fence. A clear crack at them here and he can get the job done as he returns to home soil today.